By Jisrael Yitzchak Rosenfeld
The Midrash teaches that the five books of the Torah (Chumash) correspond to the five times the word “light” appears in the account of the Creation of the Universe:
“And G-d said, ‘Let there be light‘”
corresponds to Bereishit.
“And there was light“
corresponds to Shemot.
“And G-d saw that the light was good“
corresponds to Vayikra.
“And G-d separated the light from the darkness“
corresponds to Bamidbar.
“And G-d called the light ‘Day’“
corresponds to Devarim.
The essence of the Book of Devarim is to call things by their true names—to define their essential nature and their relationship to the world around them.
The five books of the Torah also correspond to the five levels of the soul:
- Yechidah corresponds to Bereishit.
- Chayah corresponds to Shemot.
- Neshamah corresponds to Vayikra.
- Ruach corresponds to Bamidbar.
- And Nefesh corresponds to Devarim.
The role of the Nefesh is to receive and accept—to come into contact with the vast oceans of reality and give them room to live and space to breathe.
And this is precisely what Moshe gave us:
the ability to accept reality and build upon it.
May we be privileged to internalize this truth.
